Foster-Kinzinger Amendment to Save Money for the Taxpayers in Will County Passes House

Dec 4, 2014

Press Release

Legislation Will Allow Will County to Continue to Use Landfill An Additional 15 Years

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) and Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2015 in the House of Representatives. The bill included a provision crafted by Congressman Kinzinger and Congressman Foster which allows Will County to continue using the Prairie View Landfill through 2041.

Located south of Joliet and operated by Waste Management, the Prairie View Landfill accepts waste from Will County homes and businesses as well as debris from the Army’s remediation activities at the Joliet Arsenal.

“I am pleased that the House has passed this legislation with our amendment intact and thankful to Congressman Kinzinger and Members of the Armed Services Committee for working with us on this issue,” said Foster. “This will save taxpayers in Will County from having to pay for a new landfill site for 15 additional years and help keep garbage removal fees low.”

“This is a great example of what can happen when both sides of the aisle come together to help our constituents,” said Kinzinger. “I’m proud of this legislation that saves money and takes advantage of the resources we already have.”

In 1996, President Clinton signed a law that decommissioned the Joliet Arsenal, allowing much of that land to be repurposed for local use. In 1999, Congress enacted a law that put limits on how long a specific parcel of land that had been transferred from the Joliet Arsenal site could be used as a landfill. Because of advances in waste management practices and increased recycling rates in Will County, the landfill is not filling up as quickly as projected.

“When Will County Executive Larry Walsh brought this to my attention, I knew there must be something Adam and I could do about it,” said Foster.

The National Defense Authorization Act governs defense programs for Fiscal Year 2015. Before it becomes law, it still needs to be passed by the Senate and signed by the President.